By Kofi Asare Opoku African proverbs express the wisdom of the African people and are a key to the understanding of African ways of life in the past and in the present. All people are believed to possess wisdom, and the Akan (ahkahn) people of Ghana (gah'nuh) tell an interesting story of how it spread to all parts of the world: Long, long ago there lived a man called Kwaku Ananse (Kwah'koo ahnahn'sih). Ananse possessed all the wisdom in the world, but so selfish was he that he did not want to share it with anybody. He decided to collect it in a big pot and hide it at the top of a big, tall tree in the forest. Ananse's wife got him the largest pot she could find, and Ananse began to fill it with wisdom. He told no one what he was doing. When he had finished, he fastened a rope around the pot, tied the rest of it around his neck, and sneaked out of the house in the dead of night the pot hanging on his belly. Ananse walked clumsily into the thickest part of the forest until he came to the tree that he thought would serve his purpose and stopped. Ananse did not think that any of the members of his house had seen him, but he was mistaken. Flis son, Ntikuma (nteemah), had been awakened by the noise his father made and had followed Ananse, curious to see just what Ananse was going to do. Ntikuma hid himself behind a tree a good distance away and gazed intently at his father. After pausing for a while to steady the pot Ananse began to climb the tree. But with the pot in front of him it was very difficult for him to get a good grip on the trunk. He tried several times to climb the tree but could not, and so he paused to think. As Ananse scratched his head in search of a solution to his problem, he was startled by a loud laugh behind him, and he turned around to find, to this utter amazement, his son. Ntikuma suggested to his father that if he would put the pot on his back instead of on his belly he would find it easier to climb the tree. Ananse was furious that it took his son to show him this simple solution. Filled with great frustration, he threw down the pot, and the wisdom from it spread to all parts of the world. It is part of the wisdom scattered from Ananse's pot that appears in African proverbs. Proverbs have many uses in African societies. They may express an eternal truth. They may be a warning against foolish acts or a guide to good conduct. They may also bring special meaning to certain situations and may even solve particular problems. Proverbs are expressed not only in words but also in the language of the drums and the sound of the horns blown by the attendants of chiefs. Even patterns woven in cloth by weavers may express proverbial saying. One example is the Kente (kan'tay) pattern Tikoro nko agyina (tih koro nko ahg'yee'nah) "One head does not go into council (It is better if two heads make a decision)" which the Republic of Ghana presented to the United Nations. It may be seen hanging on one of the walls in the delegates' lounge in the United Nations Building in New York City. The Yoruba (yo'roobah') ofNigeria (niejeer'eeuh) emphasize the value of proverbs by saying "A proverb is the horse that can carry one swiftly to the discovery of ideas". The following proverbs will give some insight into an important aspect of African culture and help to increase human understanding.
What uses do proverbs have in African societies? Do you think proverbs may have some of the same uses in your own society? Tell why you think as you do.
What do you think the Yoruba of Nigeria meant by saying, "A proverb is the horse that can carry one swiftly to the discovery of ideas"?
In what other ways besides words are African proverbs expressed? Do you think the proverbial saying that was presented to the United Nations by the Republic of Ghana was appropriate? Why do you think that?
Why, do you think, did the author include the African story about how Kwaku Ananse spread wisdom to all parts of the world in this selection?
Using your own words, explain the meaning of a proverb that you feel gives good advice. Can you think of a situation in which to apply that advice? If so, describe that situation.
According to the author, African proverbs are a key to the understanding of African ways of life. How do you think understanding the proverbs of different peoples might help to increase international understanding among peoples?
Some Favorite African Proverbs About the Author Kofi Asare Opoku is a Ghanaian whose primary work has been researching African culture, religion, and oral literature. A graduate of the University of Ghana, Mr.. Opoku spent six and a half years in the United States, where he studied at Yale University Divinity School, as well as a year in West Germany at the University of Bonn. He has traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Africa. Mr. Opoku's hobbies are photography, traveling, and collecting African stories and proverbs. He says that his book Speak to the Winds: Proverbs from Africa is an attempt to introduce young people to the traditional wisdom and values of Africa. (This information from The Drum: Rites of Passage copied here without permission and will be removed if requested)
By Kofi Asare Opoku
African proverbs express the wisdom of the African people and are a key to the understanding of African ways of life in the past and in the present.
All people are believed to possess wisdom, and the Akan (ahkahn) people of Ghana (gah'nuh) tell an interesting story of how it spread to all parts of the world:
Long, long ago there lived a man called Kwaku Ananse (Kwah'koo ahnahn'sih). Ananse possessed all the wisdom in the world, but so selfish was he that he did not want to share it with anybody. He decided to collect it in a big pot and hide it at the top of a big, tall tree in the forest. Ananse's wife got him the largest pot she could find, and Ananse began to fill it with wisdom. He told no one what he was doing.
When he had finished, he fastened a rope around the pot, tied the rest of it around his neck, and sneaked out of the house in the dead of night the pot hanging on his belly. Ananse walked clumsily into the thickest part of the forest until he came to the tree that he thought would serve his purpose and stopped.
Ananse did not think that any of the members of his house had seen him, but he was mistaken. Flis son, Ntikuma (nteemah), had been awakened by the noise his father made and had followed Ananse, curious to see just what Ananse was going to do. Ntikuma hid himself behind a tree a good distance away and gazed intently at his father.
After pausing for a while to steady the pot Ananse began to climb the tree. But with the pot in front of him it was very difficult for him to get a good grip on the trunk. He tried several times to climb the tree but could not, and so he paused to think.
As Ananse scratched his head in search of a solution to his problem, he was startled by a loud laugh behind him, and he turned around to find, to this utter amazement, his son. Ntikuma suggested to his father that if he would put the pot on his back instead of on his belly he would find it easier to climb the tree. Ananse was furious that it took his son to show him this simple solution. Filled with great frustration, he threw down the pot, and the wisdom from it spread to all parts of the world.
It is part of the wisdom scattered from Ananse's pot that appears in African proverbs. Proverbs have many uses in African societies. They may express an eternal truth. They may be a warning against foolish acts or a guide to good conduct. They may also bring special meaning to certain situations and may even solve particular problems.
Proverbs are expressed not only in words but also in the language of the drums and the sound of the horns blown by the attendants of chiefs. Even patterns woven in cloth by weavers may express proverbial saying. One example is the Kente (kan'tay) pattern Tikoro nko agyina (tih koro nko ahg'yee'nah) "One head does not go into council (It is better if two heads make a decision)" which the Republic of Ghana presented to the United Nations. It may be seen hanging on one of the walls in the delegates' lounge in the United Nations Building in New York City.
The Yoruba (yo'roobah') ofNigeria (niejeer'eeuh) emphasize the value of proverbs by saying "A proverb is the horse that can carry one swiftly to the discovery of ideas". The following proverbs will give some insight into an important aspect of African culture and help to increase human understanding.
- What uses do proverbs have in African societies? Do you think proverbs may have some of the same uses in your own society? Tell why you think as you do.
- What do you think the Yoruba of Nigeria meant by saying, "A proverb is the horse that can carry one swiftly to the discovery of ideas"?
- In what other ways besides words are African proverbs expressed? Do you think the proverbial saying that was presented to the United Nations by the Republic of Ghana was appropriate? Why do you think that?
- Why, do you think, did the author include the African story about how Kwaku Ananse spread wisdom to all parts of the world in this selection?
- Using your own words, explain the meaning of a proverb that you feel gives good advice. Can you think of a situation in which to apply that advice? If so, describe that situation.
- According to the author, African proverbs are a key to the understanding of African ways of life. How do you think understanding the proverbs of different peoples might help to increase international understanding among peoples?
Some Favorite African ProverbsAbout the Author
Kofi Asare Opoku is a Ghanaian whose primary work has been researching African culture, religion, and oral literature. A graduate of the University of Ghana, Mr.. Opoku spent six and a half years in the United States, where he studied at Yale University Divinity School, as well as a year in West Germany at the University of Bonn. He has traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Africa.
Mr. Opoku's hobbies are photography, traveling, and collecting African stories and proverbs. He says that his book Speak to the Winds: Proverbs from Africa is an attempt to introduce young people to the traditional wisdom and values of Africa. (This information from The Drum: Rites of Passage copied here without permission and will be removed if requested)
http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/dlee/acs/classnotes/Module%20One/culture/african_proverbs.htm
Original Source: http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/af-prov.htm